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Garden History Image of the Week: New view of Chatsworth

Joseph Paxton's 1844 'Emperor' Fountain at Chatsworth as seen by '225.5º ARC X 5' by Bernar Venet. Part of "Beyond Limits", a Sotheby's selling exhibition of modern and contemporary sculpture currently installed on the grounds. Get your bid in by November 15, if you're so inclined.

The Emperor fountain, with a maximum height of 296 feet, is entirely ego-powered, having been commissioned by the Duke of Devonshire in 1843 to surpass the fountains of Peterhof in anticipation of the impending visit of Tsar Nicholas I of Russia. The work, including digging an eight-acre reservoir 110 meters above the house to supply the water under gravity-pressure, proceeded even at night under the light of flares and the project was completed in just six months. Alas, the Tsar never came.

But the water pressure was used to provide Chatsworth's electricity from 1893 to 1936, and after the installation of a new turbine in 1988 currently produces about a third of house's daily requirements; a thoroughly modern use of what was once just a garden fancy. I'm wondering if any other gardens have put their historic hydraulics to such a use...if you know of one, get in touch!

I don't know about modern gardens, but certainly a lot of villas, in particular those in the Veneto, used to run water through decorative fountains before it went on to be used in the household or for farming.

Also thanks so much for these posts on 'Beyond Limits' I hadn't known anything about it, really interesting range of sculpture.

German born and educated Dr Ferdinand von Mueller was appointed Victoria’s first Government Botanist from 1853 and remained in the position until 1896. And he quickly became foundation Director of the Melbourne Botanical Gardens in 1857.

So it is interesting that your Dr C Fiebrig was vigorously recruited by the President of Paraguay to create a botanical garden. It was a good decision, apparently; Fiebrig seemed to have an important influence on the garden designs, plants, animals and research. No wonder the German Colonial Office for Eastern Africa also wanted him for an important botanical position.

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When people hear I have a master's degree in Garden History, their first response is often to laugh. It does have something of the underwater-basket-weaving ring to it. Next they're surprised, as I myself was initially, to find out that it is in fact a serious and scholarly 'field' of study; much like architectural history, only about landscapes instead of buildings.

Then, then, they're fascinated. It only takes a little explaining for them to catch on that gardens are so much more than just a pretty place. So much more than just a collection of plants. I hope to share what, and why, with this blog.

History begins with the last moment. So this blog will also include recent garden history...spaces and objects of interest now, as well as what is past. No generation has a lock on what is beautiful or innovative, so the best understanding, the best design, the most satisfying garden places, have something of both past and present, now and then.